Bottoming front forks out

[thejean]

Last few times I've been out I noticed that I have been bottoming out the forks on the bigger whoops. Talked to my suspension guy who says seems to be common with the snow bikes and that I should stiffen up for winter. I have an 09 300 xcw and a 2011 ST kit. Anyone else have this issue and if so, did you stiffen up the front a bit for winter? Thanks, JC

 

[Motogeek33]

Yes... I went with .52 kg/mm Race Tech fork springs this year and it has raised the overall ride height and the forks don't bottom out nearly as much as last year. It was a worthwhile upgrade for sure.

 

[mnsnowhawk]

Yep. .52 springs.

 

[Ausm7499]

I was able to get .54 kg/mm springs through diverse springs.

 

[Adobe-Al]

All Xcw's stock springs are very soft, even for dirt. Most people that ride aggressive dirt have to jump up a size or two. So for snow biking I'm trying to get a spring that will keep it up in the winter and not be to stiff in the summer. Greg at Factory Suspension Works is helping with some re-valving as well. You might get away with increasing your pre-load and turning up you compression.

 

[thejean]

I'm going to buy the tool and just swap springs summer and winter I think rather than compromise.

 

[Jon Mutiger]

You don't need any special tools to change fork springs on the xcw. The top cap can be opened safely using the hex of the external preload adjuser. Then inside you need aa slightly thinner than normal 7/8" or 22 mm.

It's not hard at all to swap them.

I set my fork oil based on where the clamps for the ski mount are.. So you end up with way more oil but that means less clamps into your seals.

Jon

 

[scooter4x40]

I put .54 springs and 10 weight oil, made a world of difference, on my 07 yz 450

 

[350scott]

Yep with my XCW-open cartridge forks, pretty much the same as others. Heavier springs (0.52), heavier oil (10wt) and raised the oil height (+10mm to 100mm). I have to hit something really hard to get them to bottom and even then, it's not a hard bottoming.